One World One Dream, One Bar
When we arrived last month, the Olympic excitement was palpable. China is so incredibly proud to host the Games and when the first firework exploded over the opening ceremony on Friday night, the country collectively let out a pent-up jubilation seven years in the making.
A friend and I braved the crowds to celebrate with the reported 90,000 people gathered outside National Stadium. We weren’t able to get too close, but from where we stood we could see the fireworks shooting out of the top of the Bird’s Nest, and more importantly, the reactions of the thousands of Chinese packed in around us. Because of the distance, smog, and line of sight, it was virtually impossible to capture photos of anything recognizable as the ceremony, but throngs of people spilled into the street anyway, cameras held high and snapping away. Slick with sweat because the thick crowd blocked what little breeze there was on the humid night, my friend and I cheered and laughed with the locals around us, marveling that despite the heat and pushing everyone was in the highest of spirits.
After swimming in the sea of humanity for a while, we left to meet up with friends watching the ceremony on the roof deck of a popular expatriate bar. Initially, a bar was the last place I wanted to watch the opening, but when I got a friend on the phone for directions, it was instantly clear that my fear of a crowded, rowdy bar with no one paying attention to the ceremony was uncalled for. My friend spoke in a whisper and it was so quiet in the background that I thought he had stayed at the dorm to watch from his room.
We arrived and tiptoed through people jammed onto the roof deck, sitting two to a chair or on the floor and intently watching a projection screen. Under low lights and the bow of a beautiful tree that grew over the deck, we watched the parade of nations begin. Expats and travelers from all over the world stood up and cheered when their countries emerged from the tunnel to circle the track. The rest of the bar joined in the celebration for each and for a few seconds, everyone got to feel like they were home.
When the citywide fireworks display started popping, we turned our chairs to watch the action over nearby Hou Hai lake, an trendy area full of bars and restaurants. It was like a New Year’s celebration wrapped into something bigger and more meaningful because the whole world was watching. Years of preparation for China and months of preparation for us at Emerson boiled down to this one night. It was a thrilling evening to be a part of.
Ready or not China, it’s time to show the world what you’ve got.
Your Comments
Oh I have goosebumps…you write so beautifully Soozer. You put me right in the moment, even though I am all the way around the world
Reply